Conditions for the award of the IB Diploma
(General Regulations: May 2010)
Assessment
Examiners appointed by the IB Organization assess candidates’ work in Diploma Programme examinations and
other forms of external assessment using common markschemes/assessment criteria. This external assessment
may be complemented by internal assessment by schools of other required work, which is moderated by IB
Organization examiners.
Grades
Performance in each subject is graded on a scale of 1 point (minimum) to 7 points (maximum). For the IB
diploma, a maximum of 3 points is awarded for combined performance in theory of knowledge and the
extended essay. The maximum total Diploma Programme points score is 45.
Award of the IB Diploma
All assessment components for each of the six subjects and the additional IB diploma requirements must be
completed in order to qualify for the award of the IB diploma, except under the conditions stipulated in section
VII “Special cases C: Incomplete assessment” of these general regulations.
The IB diploma will be awarded to a candidate whose total score is 24, 25, 26 or 27 points, provided all
the following requirements have been met.
a. Numeric grades have been awarded in all six subjects registered for the IB diploma.
b. All CAS requirements have been met. General regulations: Diploma Programme
c. Grades A (highest) to E (lowest) have been awarded for both theory of knowledge and an extended
essay, with a grade of at least D in one of them.
d. There is no grade 1 in any subject.
e. There is no grade 2 at HL.
f. There is no more than one grade 2 at SL.
g. Overall, there are no more than three grades 3 or below.
h. At least 12 points have been gained on HL subjects (candidates who register for four HL
subjects must gain at least 16 points at higher level).
i. At least 9 points have been gained on SL subjects (candidates who register for two SL subjects must
gain at least 6 points at standard level).
j. The final award committee has not judged the candidate to be guilty of malpractice.
The IB diploma will be awarded to a candidate whose total score is 28 points or above, provided all the
following requirements have been met.
a. Numeric grades have been awarded in all six subjects registered for the IB diploma.
b. All CAS requirements have been met.
c. Grades A (highest) to E (lowest) have been awarded for both theory of knowledge and an extended
essay, with a grade of at least D in one of them.
d. There is no grade 1 in any subject.
e. There is no more than one grade 2 at HL.
f. There are no more than two grades 2 at SL.
g. Overall, there are no more than three grades 3 or below.
h. At least 11 points have been gained on HL subjects (candidates who register for four higher level
subjects must gain at least 14 points at higher level).
i At least 8 points have been gained on standard level subjects (candidates who register for two SL
subjects must gain at least 5 points at standard level).
j. The final award committee has not judged the candidate to be guilty of malpractice.
IB Diploma Bonus Point Matrix
Theory of Knowledge
E
x
t
e
n
d
e
d
E
s
s
a
y
A
B
C
D
E
Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Mediocre
Elementary
A Excellent
+3
+3
+2
+2
+1
F*
B Good
+3
+2
+1
+1
F*
C Satisfactory
+2
+1
+1
0
F*
D Mediocre
+2
+1
0
0
F*
E Elementary
+1
F*
F*
F*
F*
F
F* From 2010 onwards 28 points overall will be required to be eligible for the diploma if a student attains an “E” grade in
either the extended essay or theory of knowledge
As previously, a grade “A” in one of the requirements earns an extra point even if the other is a grade “E”.
Attaining a grade “E” in both the extended essay and theory of knowledge continues to represent an automatic failure.